First decline in two years was offset by a modest rise in murders nationwide; bucking the trend, homicide rates fall in largest cities

Violent crime fell slightly during the first half of 2017, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, signaling a possible slowdown in a two-year, nationwide rise in violence.

Violent crimes, including aggravated assaults, rapes and murders, dropped 0.8% across the country in the first six months of last year, the FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report showed, after increasing in the two previous reports.